“Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, and hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent.” — Stephen King
BETWEEN THE LINES: That statement sums up my love of books. But, I write this not to praise the prolific, best-selling author, but to extol the joy of reading that has given me untold hours of pleasure.
Reading is my favorite leisure time diversion. A rock and roll enthusiast since I first heard Elvis Presley in my youth, I’ve enjoyed books even longer. While rock music may energize my spirit, opening a new book with its just-printed scent and crisp, yet fragile, pages stimulates my mind from the opening sentence that transports me to unexplored worlds.
To help broaden my passion for books and reading to others, I volunteered to be a “book giver” on April 23, which was designated the second annual World Book Night. The event is the brainchild of a Scottish book publisher, who kicked it off last year in Ireland and the United Kingdom, to spread a love of reading and books. (I’m still not clear why the word “night” is used, as opposed to “day,” so, from here, I will refer to the event as World Book Day [or WBD]).
Earlier this month we told you about the book donation drive going on at Gerritsen Beach library. Those books are now on sale, helping to raise money for the local branch. Apparently the drive was so successful, the organizers are a little overwhelmed. They wrote to us earlier this week:
We REALLY could use your help. The other volunteers and I have been sorting books for weeks for the upcoming Gerritsen Beach Library book sale (Friday and Saturday). Normally we set up the sale the day before, but due to the sheer quantity of donations this time we began setting up on Monday. We have so many books we are not going to be able to nicely display them all. We do not have a large enough space to save the books for the next book sale so it would be really great if we sold as much as possible.
Get out there and buy some books! The library is located at 2808 Gerritsen Avenue.
ATTENTION LIGHT AND NON-READERS: Monday is World Book Night. In 6,000 towns and cities across America, volunteers will give away half a million free books on one day.
Sheepshead Bites contributor Neil Friedman is a volunteer book-giver and will be distributing 10 paperback copies of a novel Monday at noon at the Gerritsen Beach branch of the Brooklyn Public Library (2808 Gerritsen Avenue). Rather than distribute on a first-come, first-served basis, prospective recipients will be asked an easy question on American literature on the spot, so no one has an advantage or attempts to look it up online. The first 10 who give the correct answer will receive a trade paperback novel, appropriate for readers 12 and up, selected by Friedman from a list of 30 books.
World Book Night in the U.S. is a non-profit organization, and has 501(c)3 charitable status. World Book Night U.S. is supported by publishers, Barnes & Noble, the American Booksellers Association, the American Library Association, Ingram Content Group, United Parcel Services, and fifteen printers and paper companies.
A Gravesend librarian has transformed his library’s auditorium into an art gallery that displays work from emerging artists.
“I want to raise the culture for everyone in the area,” said Boris Loselev in the New York Daily News. “Our goal isn’t selling art, it’s promoting art.”
Loselev takes time out of his own schedule to run the monthly art exhibits in the Brooklyn Public Library – Gravesend branch at 303 Avenue X. He also travels at least three times a month to different art galleries across the city in search of new talent to present in these exhibits.
Loselev’s first exhibit, which was 10 years ago, only had six attendees, but now his exhibits draw in a much larger crowd.
“When I talk to people, they tell me it’s so great,” he said. “They call it the oasis of culture in the neighborhood.”
Loselev hopes to expand the exhibit to other libraries and plans on holding lectures for kids in the neighborhood who lost art programs in their schools due to the budget cuts.
Today is the first day of the Gerritsen Beach Library Book Sale. Help support the library and stock your shelves by picking up some “gently used and like-new books,” as well as DVD, VHS tapes (what are those?), and more. The sale is going on all weekend until Monday at 5:30 p.m. (UPDATED: The library is closed during the weekend thanks to budget cuts. The sale is today and Monday only. Apologies for any confusion.)
You can also buy a 50/50 raffle ticket for $1 each or six for $5. The drawing will be held Monday at 5:00 p.m.
The library is at 2808 Gerritsen Avenue and can be reached at (718) 368-1435.
Some might consider this porn. Well, I wouldn't. But someone could, right? (Source: City Hall News)
State Senator Marty Golden doesn’t want you killing kittens with taxpayer dollars. Or making angels weep. And he certainly doesn’t want you going blind.
That’s why Golden is calling on the Brooklyn, Queens and New York Public Library systems to establish stronger policies to halt access to pornographic websites on public computers in library branches throughout the city.
“Allowing anyone to view pornographic materials on a public computer in one of our library branches here in Brooklyn, or anywhere else in New York City, is appalling,” Golden said in statement issued today. “Libraries are for the community to enrich their educational pursuits, not be a place to go so to download pornography. ”
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’s mobile community office will be visiting the Kings Highway Brooklyn Public Library at 2115 Ocean Avenue, on Friday, April 8, from 2 to 4 p.m.
A staff member will be in attendance to discuss local issues and answer questions from the community.
The Brooklyn Public Library is now launching it’s third annual Support Our Shelves fundraiser, to try and reach its $500,000 goal to buy books and materials for its 60 libraries that are likely to undergo budget cuts.
According to a press release, Support Our Shelves is a four-month long campaign that runs from March 1 to June 30. The fundraiser will help buy books, DVDs, CDs, eBooks and other materials for the Brooklyn Public Library and is also designed to keep new books in the libraries.
There will also be a limited edition shirt on sale to raise even more money for the cause. “I Heart BPL” t-shirts will be available in March at all Brooklyn locations of Brooklyn Industries, as well as in their online store. Shirts are $20 each and all proceeds will benefit Support Our Shelves.
Donations can be made directly at local libraries, online or by phone at (718) 230-2738.
Brooklyn Public Library officials and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have struck a deal to maintain a minimum of five day service at all branches, narrowly escaping devastating cuts that would have shuttered branches and eliminated hours across the board.
[ABOVE: Watch BPL Representative Mel Henkle tell Community Board 15 about the new hours, and thank the community for its advocacy.]
In our neck of the woods, the compromise means that some of our libraries will lose Saturday service beginning July 10, including the Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend and Homecrest branches. Saturday service will be provided at the Kings Bay, Kings Highway and Brighton Beach branches, and the Kings Highway branch will also have summer Sunday hours.
